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Would like some feedback

G

gmotoman

Mar 10, 2019
4
1
#1
I bought a bass and amp 18months ago. I have been practicing and enjoying learning new things, but I can't seem to find anyone who wants to play with me. I have had a couple of people ask me to hang out and kind of audition, but they pointed (politely) I have a terrible skill set. I seem to be at the end of my abilities, and I accept I am not that good. I can't play faster than 60bpm for example, and it only gets worse.
So as much fun as I am having solo, and that's wearing thin, if I can't find others to play with I am thinking about selling my equipment. I have been trying for 18 months and to be honest I am losing the want to play with others.

Would you sell your stuff and just give up? Or would you still just twiddle solo, and get what joy you could out of that?
 
#3
Lessons?
I recently signed up for a year of Scott Bass Lessons online and have improved immensely. I also have been playing bass for 15 years and guitar 20 years more than that and are still learning.
Never too old or young for instruction.
On the other hand if you just can’t get with playing an instrument learn sound and you’ll never be out of a job.
 
#6
gmotoman said:
I bought a bass and amp 18months ago. I have been practicing and enjoying learning new things, but I can't seem to find anyone who wants to play with me. I have had a couple of people ask me to hang out and kind of audition, but they pointed (politely) I have a terrible skill set. I seem to be at the end of my abilities, and I accept I am not that good. I can't play faster than 60bpm for example, and it only gets worse.
So as much fun as I am having solo, and that's wearing thin, if I can't find others to play with I am thinking about selling my equipment. I have been trying for 18 months and to be honest I am losing the want to play with others.

Would you sell your stuff and just give up? Or would you still just twiddle solo, and get what joy you could out of that?
Click to expand...
Not everything is for everybody. Not trying to discourage you, but it sounds like you've made little progress for 18 months of playing. For most of us, 18 months isn't even enough time to realize we have a lot more to learn, so I do suspect you haven't had any sort of solid plan to improve, like some sort of lessons (live or online). If your practice routines aren't varied and structured, it's difficult to improve. Your practice sessions should include a stuff like exercises (scales, arpeggios, etc), learning new songs and then some time just playing songs you know for the fun of playing. Only you know if you're giving it as much effort as you can to become "good enough" to play with others. And only you know if you want to work hard enough to keep trying.

So it seems like you have three choices:
1. Take some lessons and really work at it. Most of us aren't virtuosos, but I can't imagine that there is anybody who couldn't cobble together enough basic bass lines to play with some groups.
2. Forget about playing with people and continue to play for yourself. A lot of people prefer this over dealing with band drama. There's a lot you can do on your own. This is not my personal preference (for me a lot of what makes music cool is the interaction between band members), but many feel differently.
3. Give up on the bass and move on to your next hobby, There's no shame in recognizing that something isn't for you. You tired and it just didn't work out.
 

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